The stories of The Histories, written by Herodotus, have the theme of punishment scattered throughout. Many of the stories are based upon punishment and cruelty, partly because this book tells the story of how the Greek city states fight off the Persians time and time again. However, it is not only in battle it cruelty and punishment seen; the idea of punishment and cruelty for power, revenge, and control is seen throughout the entire work. Among the stories of The Histories, the punishments that Herodotus includes are astonishing in their cruelty or initiative. This is particularly true of certain longer sections including the feast that Astyages prepared to punish Harpagus’ disobedience (1.118–119) or Hermotimus castrating Panionius and his sons in revenge for his own mutilation (8.105). Elsewhere, however, startling punishments are evidence of the variety of human accomplishment, though not always admirable, show the desire for revenge. Such desires can lead to terrible tragedies, which Herodotus recognizes as part of the historical record. Herodotus may dwell on horrors like Hermotimus’ punishment, perhaps to suggest that the tragic cannot be incorporated into the narratives of cities and national politics. Herodotus’ interest in other cultures is evident not only when he records national origins, diet, dress, and other things, he also notes the unusual laws and their corresponding punishments. Herodotus’ record of such punishments tends to highlight what is unique about a particular group of people or culture, as seen especially within the Egypt stories. The Egyptian society, which cultivated the Nile valley and raised many impressive monuments, is reflected in laws that punish idleness with death. The law established by Amasis, that every man, once a year, must go before the provincial governor and declare their source of livelihood, was brought back to Athens by Solon. If the man was unable to prove that his source or income was an honest one, he would...

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...Herodotus c.484 B.C-c.429/425 B.C.
Greek historian.
INTRODUCTION
Called the "father of history" by the Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero, Herodotus is best known for his long and compelling prose account of life in Greece, Asia Minor, and Egypt which focuses on the causes and events of the Greco-Persian Wars. For Herodotus, history (historiai) meant "inquiry," and his attentions in the History are devoted not just to epic moments in the...

...Today’s criminal system has four justifications for punishment; these justifications for punishment are Retribution, Deterrence, Rehabilitation, and Social Protection. Retribution: “an act of moral vengeance by which society makes the offender suffer as much as the suffering caused by the crime,” Deterrence: “the attempt to discourage criminality through the use of punishment,” Rehabilitation: “a program for reforming the offender to prevent later...

...Herodotus: The Father of History
Many students today propose the question, "why do we study history, what does it have to do with us?" This question is not a new idea; in fact, the Greeks didn't concern themselves with true scientific history until after 500 B.C. Up until this point the Greeks focused mainly on myths and legends that explained how to please their many gods. It wasn't until the time of Herodotus that any emphasis was placed on recording a true...

...The accounts of Scythia in Herodotus’ The Histories are organized in concurrence with the timeline of the Persian invasion of Scythia, led by King Darius, where as the invasion progresses Herodotus repeatedly digresses about the history of Scythia until the Persians and Scythians meet, at which point the apparent essence of the accounts of Scythia in The Histories, the Persian invasion, is concluded. Although Herodotus’ description of Scythia seems...

...Caitlin Beaumont
C3164428
Passage 2
Herodotus: The Writer and Historian
Herodotus the writer, from the later fifth century, is considered to be one of the first ancient scholars who had invented historiography. He was a known traveller, who journeyed to many different places such as Egypt and Babylon and Greece and he is most famous for his tremendously systematised work and astonishing literary excellence.
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...Position Paper #1
September 12, 2013
The issue stated is, does punishment really work? If so, what types of punishments? What types of punishments are least effective? Starting out by observing what punishment is, will help out best. Punishment is a certain consequence that an individual may face to reduce the behavior from occurring.
While punishment can be effective in some cases, you can probably think...

...Michael Beers
History 106-01
Mr. Horlor
July 12, 2013
The Life and Works of Herodotus and Sima Qian
A Research-Based Commentary
Thesis
In the book Herodotus and Sima Qian (2010), Thomas R. Martin contests of the Greek Historian and the Chinese Historian Sima Qian. Martin displays that though the historians’ politics, cultures, and time periods were different, both historians had the innate desire to record their subjective view of history as objectively as...

...after that I can possibly do jail time from six months to a year and sure their will be rank taken away or something along those lines. I'm clearly realizing that it is essential for me to keep this information in my head so that I inexorably avoid punishment to that extent. My scenario isn't nearly as precarious as it may be perceived; however the opinions of a soldier are irrelevant in this or any case. Typing this essay has taught me a bit of a lesson, a more emotionally...